Daily Draw: Santa Fe Tarot ~ Page of Lightening

The Navajo story behind this card deals with life ended too soon and and this Page being an emissary between the larger Thunders. This brings so many things to mind; how much I would like to talk to my grandmother, how I'd like one more hug from my father, how I'd like to kick the (Y) of a classmate who dropped dead at 38 leaving a terrible muddle of his estate.

This Page seeks knowledge, looks for a way to chart his own path, but forgets that there is nothing new under the sun. All our knowledge comes from standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before and I need to acknowledge that gift and grow from those seeds. I accept from this card today there is no need to waste time re-inventing the wheel.

Daily Draw: Santa Fe Tarot ~ 9 of Buffalo

This card speaks of worldly success based on a solitary path as opposed to someone who has worked their way to the top corporation style. I tried that for 10 years. I appreciate the skills I gained and the diversity of people associated, but in the end the pettiness, politics, blind alleys, dead ends, and hoops to be jumped left me feeling ground down and exhausted, not sharp and enthused.

I'm reminded by this card that while the path I've chosen for my life is seldom easy, it is fun, interesting, exciting, varied, and if something needs changed or isn't getting done I know where the CEO is. It is me.

Daily Draw: Santa Fe Tarot ~ Queen of Buffalo

It's payday! Who would argue that a paycheck in the pocket = Queen of Buffalo today?

Most Rider-Waite decks use human images, and in the court cards particularly the customary Prince/Page is standing or walking, Knight is astride a mount, Queen is sitting on a throne as is the King. The Santa Fe deck varies from this standard. Each card is chock-a-block with Navajo symbolism so my daily draw and spreads this week will add a whole new layer to my growing body of knowledge.

Daily Draw: Santa Fe Tarot ~ 4 of Water

The spotted creature is captive of the water lizard, which is much like I feel. I have relinquished power for today to someone else, I'm too close to a situation to be effective. Yet I continue to struggle to break out, to come up with a miracle.

I'm reminded by this card today that everyone needs time to recharge their batteries, to pause, reflect, and rest. Sometimes my best solutions come to me when I turn my back on a situation and concentrate somewhere else.

This week's deck art is by Holly Huber and Tracy LeCoco and is based on traditional Navajo sand paintings of the Path to Beauty.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ 3 of Cups

Community, kinship, friendship, cooperation. None of us are islands, that is why time in solitary is used as a punishment. The bible says "give and ye shall receive" and this is particularly true in relation to the 3 of cups. If we give to our community the community becomes a better place for all. If we give of ourselves to family and friends they in turn give themselves to us.

I am the last person anyone would call a social butterfly. I am so busy that when I get some solitude I savor and hoard it. Like Scrooge McDuck on his back on a pile of coins waving all four limbs in the air, I think 'mine, all mine'. This card reminds me to reach out to others, being an island is a lonely way to be.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ 9 of Swords

Am unthrilled to see this card today. Errk, doom and gloom and all their unhealthy friends. To underline the impact of this card the deck author compares it to the potato famine of Ireland in the 1840's. But the cards are telling it like it is, when faced with bad news and hard decisions.

I'm reminded once again that hiding from the facts of life would be doing myself no favors. That choices have to be made and to do the best I can. There is no fault in making a mistake and living with the consequences. No action is the danger here.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ Prince of Swords

A passion for social justice...This card is represented by Queen Victoria's third child Alice. Rather than accept the posh easy life she chose working to uplift the life of the common man, much to the dismay of her husband and mother.

This card reminds me that what I might think as good for someone may only be good for me. To keep an open mind and listen to the other persons viewpoint on life before I make assumptions and try to affect changes. Assuming is one of my biggest faults and a hard beast to tame.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ The Tower

Great upheaval and moving on from what we perceive as the safety net and comfort zone we work so hard to build around ourselves. Humans are for the most part sheeple, going where other people go, buying what other people buy, believing words someone else wrote, not realizing that a safety net built on human mediocrity is no protection from the Tower. Ego can also be our Tower, based on an inflated opinion...

I went to bed angry and woke up even more angry. This card pointedly reminds me, again, that life is not static. We become placid because we seldom have huge changes and we forget that those changes usually happen in an instant. But we can control our actions and words spoken in anger are seldom words of wisdom. Sometimes those very words are what causes the tower to fall.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ 10 of Cups

Readers seem to be of two minds about the 10 of Cups card. To some extent it depends on the spread, the query and the querent, and even the deck used. It may portray the epitome of happiness and success, some think the 9 of Cups represents that and the 10 of Cups is staleness/boredom/past your pull-by date.

There isn't anything stale in this card (that is the fun of reading cards) although these figures could be either welcoming or waving good-bye. I'm worn to a nub, so today I see in this card accepting the responsibility
of acknowledging all that I've been given but to recognize worldly Coins are but temporary. Life in this world can be changed irrevocably in an instant, it is folly to take anything for granted.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ 3 of Coins

A good card for the day. Drawn at 2 AM when my day began and I'm just getting to my blog at 7 PM when my work day has finished. The 3 of Coins is about being the best you can be whether your calling is physical or cerebral, whether you provide a service or build a product. For someone like me with a lot of oars in the water it is hard to define if what I'm doing is my best because there isn't much to compare it against. In the end it isn't me who measures the quality of my work, it is my clients who decide. No clients? Crappy work ethic. Clients standing in line... keep up the good work, it is 3 of Coins quality.

I'm reminded by this card that what I do makes a big difference in other people's lives, so it behooves me to give 100%. I would certainly hope that for myself if our positions were reversed.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ 8 of Coins

I think this is the first 8 of Coins I've run across that has a woman as the craftsman. I know there are Goddess and Feminist decks so it isn't the only one, but it is nice to see because 'We've come a long way, baby'. A good research for today if the time shows up to do it.

This card reminds me that by my age I should be a journeyman at my chosen or natural skills. That it is never to late to learn something new (like Tarot) but if I've been working at doing something for 1/2 a century and I'm still doing less than stellar work, it is time to admit it and move on. Sometimes we hang on to habits, goods, or people that should have long since been deep sixed. Think I'll do a little decluttering today.

Daily Draw: Victoria Regina Tarot ~ The Empress

The Empress is often shown as a mother-figure, pregnant, to indicate nurturing and a firm grounding in the everyday earthly life. The Empress in the Victoria Regina by Sarah Ovenall shows her to be sensual, straight forward and oblivious to what anyone might think about her or her actions.

A fitting card today, my best friend's nickname is Empress of Everything and spending time with her has been a life-lesson in devil take the hindmost, let's have fun. She has taught me much, including the most precious gift of all, what my purpose on this earth is.

Today she is teetering at the edge of death's door and my heart is working overtime against the sorrow that will soon come. I'm reminded by this card of the life lessons I've learned from my Empress, of the laughter we've shared, and how being a lady does not mean you can't have fun.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ 3 of Swords

Okay, Okay...I get the message. This was the probable outcome card in my spread yesterday also. Things are not going to go the way I want them to, and I'm not going to get the answers I want to hear.

I'm reminded by this card that I am just one grain of sand on a beach and the tide doesn't run according to my needs. So today I'll turn my energy elsewhere while I wait for the rest of the world to catch up.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ Seven of Coins

Bringing in the harvest from past actions, formulating new endeavors.

Ever heard the term, you can't fight city hall? We aren't fighting city hall, in fact they are doing what they can to assist us, but good gad, the wheels of government turn slowly. Every day there is a new roadblock, every day we think up a new plan. We are running out of ideas!!

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ Six of Coins

I had an extra long post this morning crack of dawn which I promptly lost when I tried to add an HTML button to www.petfinder.com ole dopey me...
Then I had an emergency and out the door I went, to return 12 hours later still thinking about what the 6 of coins means to me today.

I remember pulling this card the week the Druidcraft was my workhorse deck and the two effects of summer and winter, have and have nots that card gives. This card has a lot of nuances but for me today it is about giving back. Giving back to community, giving back to mentors, giving back to strangers, as strangers have done for us. Of giving willingly, humbly, and quietly with no expectation of return. Much like our animal friends do. Who love us unconditionally regardless of our worth, financial or otherwise. Today I am so thankful for all that I've been given and am glad to give in return, the real value in life lies in such give and take.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ Strength

Sometimes shown as a fierce struggle between animal and human, other times as a gentle image of taming the beast. Our two natures argue daily, that never ends. Do we collapse under pressure, submit to our vice, or does our deep strength rise to the occasion offered?

I'm reminded by this card of the promise that God never gives us more than we can handle. I hope it's true.

edited 4 hours later to note I just realized this is the Ace of Coins. Well, the cards give us what we need to know, so I stand by what the card had to communicate to me, today. I've added a scan of the Strength card to get both cards clear in my mind.

This deck is published by Magic Realist Press of Prague and many of the images used in their decks come from the architecture and art in that city. A small press that puts their heart and soul into their creations.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ 8 of Cups

Moving on, physically, emotionally or mentally. I like change and variety but I do recognize that I must be among the minority in this. Humans seem to hate change even when it is obviously to the better. I suppose fear of the unknown is partly to blame but look outside this portico. The sun is shining, there are lovely gardens to explore, vistas to see, make a new friend or two...This figure is not being forced at gunpoint, her movement is by choice.

I'm reminded by this card to explore new options, keep an open mind, embrace the potential that life offers.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ Devil

Fanaticism, obsession, aberrant behaviors, sins in the mind and heart--all everyday tools of the Devil keeping us from the higher plane we aspire to. Just this once, no one will ever know, it isn't hurting anyone whispers through our mind. Self-hate vies with do it again urges.

The Devil is in all of us, no adult is pure of heart. How I react to the temptations of the day and the habits of half a century of life determines my self-image, peace of heart and mind, and my journey on the path to being a better person. How simple are the Ten Commandants, how many millions of man's laws are on the books because we can't abide by the 10 important ones?

I'm reminded by the Devil card that my thoughts and actions all involve choice, and to work harder at choosing the high road.

Daily Draw: Baroque Bohemian Cats ~ 6 of Swords

Swords can be such a negative suit, but then life isn't all sunshine and roses is it? This card generally reflects mental, physical, or emotional movement. It can be due to someone else's actions (the helmsman), nature (flowing water), inaction or avoidance of decisions (adult sitting figure), inability or inexperience (the child), a larger entity beyond our control (the city). It is still about the journey though.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that not making a decision was a decision in itself. Dear old Dr. Phil, I always get something from his show even though I've only seen it a few times. Often we let circumstances or others make our decisions for us. Why do we do that?

I'm reminded by this card to captain my own ship, let the congratulations and complaints for my life journey be earned, not accidental.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ 2 of Cups

Working together...As if I needed this card 3 times in a month to know that! The goal we are working toward impacts city and county, family and neighbors, and a local business. If there is no cooperation there is no progress.

This reminds me other people have different priorities than we do, to relax and not push as that will get me no where but backwards. We got some positive progress yesterday just as the 9 of cups promised, perhaps today will be fruitful also, or as the little figure on the card shows, we will hear something that will be music to our ears.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ 9 of Cups

"Hooray" the figure on this card says. For fun and family in the minor arcana you can't beat this card. Am I happy to see it today? You bet.

We have so many irons in the fire that are on hold while we wait for other people to do their part, to commit, to say no... I'm reminded by this card to not get discouraged or anxious, all will come right in the end. "Hooray"!

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ Hierophant

Religions have been much on my mind lately. Such a hot button for most people, even those that don't attend a place of worship. I see "it is so because I say it is so" reasoning and an inability to accept or process differing ideas. Even when proven their take on the scripture they are quoting is skewed. And history has taught humankind absolutely nothing.

The Hierophant is reminding me to keep an open mind, listen to the rants and reasonings of others because within all lie the truth of their hearts and the ability to teach me something new.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ Knave of Coins

A dillar, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar. You used to come at ten o'clock, but now you come at noon was what came to mind when I drew this card. That and the fact I've drawn a lot of Knaves/Pages the last couple months, don't think I drew any the last 6 months of 2006.

The Knave is the perennial student. A life long love of learning is a good thing, but at some point you have to leave the schoolhouse and put what you've learned to work.

This card reminds me to define my goals and focus on priorities. Too many irons in the fire and nothing will ever get finished.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ Knave of Batons

This Knave is looking at his baton like he doesn't know how it got into his hand, and wondering what in the world comes next. Drop it and run away? Find more batons and see if they make sense in a group? Ask for help from the Hierophant or High Priestess? Take a wait and see attitude?

I think it signifies that I've made a commitment without knowing all the facts. That some details will only come clear with time. We can't know the future, we can only intuit it from our knowledge at the present minute. Some of that knowledge comes from experience, some from study, some from observation. So I continue on in my info-junkie way hoping to have the intelligence to recognize what I need to know in time for it to be of use.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ Chariot

These horses seem way too small for this great big chariot. The wheels don't seem to be parallel either, no wonder the horses appear to be straining and overwhelmed.

I'm reminded by this card to use the right tool for the job requirements. The job will go so much easier and faster and the end project will be all the better for the effort expended. I've watched people spend 10 minutes fumbling with a kitchen butter knife and a screw head, damaging the knife in the process when a minute expended walking to the tool chest in the garage would have gotten the screwdriver meant for the job. The cards are again reminding me to use my brain muscle, we have a lot of serious decisions to make. The easy answer is seldom to correct answer.

Daily Draw: Old English Tarot ~ 4 of Coins

The deck this week is Old English Tarot from U.S. Games by Maggie Kneen. Quite often this card in a spread will indicate a sense of miserliness, being stingy, or hoarding characteristics. Drawn as my daily card and knowing I am the opposite of that I look to the rendering of the art on the card for clarification.

The oxen are pulling baskets of harvested lavender or grapes which are multi-purpose crops. Both can be enjoyed fresh, and both can be utilized later in scented products, wine, juice, jelly... The château in the background is well maintained as are the fields surrounding it. The entrance to the grounds is also multi-purpose as it can be gated and locked, open with a guard, or open to all.

I draw from this card a sense of options. Depending on how we husband our material goods we can:
Use it up today, fa-la-la on tomorrow
Harvest and preserve
Find a middle ground serving the present and the future
Everything we need is at our disposal, we need to use common sense and knowledge of our options in order to make good use of the bounty available to us.

Daily Draw: Tarot Nova ~ 9 of Wands

You know the saying "won the battle but lost the war". The 9 of wands references realizing that maybe the effort wasn't worth the results. A different path may have been wiser or that in a battle everyone is a loser in the end.

This card reminds me it is ok to change my mind, to always allow for the opportunity to broaden my view. We often have to make decisions on limited knowledge. I need to keep the potential for better alternatives in the back of my mind, remain flexible, and not become a prisoner of circumstance.

Or maybe it is simply a sigh of relief that Her Royal Idiotness Heiress Hilton will be off the public thoroughfares for 45 days.

Daily Draw: Tarot Nova ~ Page of Swords

This is the poster boy for the "Just Say No" campaign. The campaign to regain your own life. An acquaintance passed away this week and on reflecting over her life with a friend I realized she never had a life. Of her own anyway.

This card reminds me, at a good time, that giving my life away to clinging vines and needy family isn't the smartest thing to do. And falls right in line with some of the other cards I've received recently. That it is important to share and give of myself, but to set boundaries on my time and energy. If I leave nothing for myself, I in turn have nothing to give when required. It is a fine line on either edge of the sword, but I think we know in our hearts the difference between enabling and empowering, and being a martyr in the worst sense of the word. In the wise words of someone...get off the cross, we need the wood.

Daily Draw: Tarot Nova ~ Two of Cups

I've been pondering this card for 4 hours. I drew it the week I used the Medieval Cat Tarot also. Sometimes when you draw the same card repeatedly it means you didn't heed the message the first time. After all, with 78 cards to draw from in a well shuffled, fanned out deck, what are the chances of getting the same card repeatedly?

Although I don't normally, I finally consulted the small book that came with this deck to see what the artist felt about the meaning of this card. "Make peace with anyone who did you wrong" & "Expect a happy surprise". I've never thought of this card in the context of forgiveness. To me, forgiveness means accepting that the past can not be changed and putting it behind me. And I live by that with one exception. Oddly enough this man came back into our life this week. He told my husband he was sorry about what happened and wished he were able to change the circumstances and outcome. Reminds me of ex-U.S. President Clinton and many convicted felons. They are sorry but that isn't an apology for doing wrong, that is sorry they got caught.

18 years is too long to hold a hard kernel of hate in my heart. 18 days is too long. Why can't I forgive and move on? Dr. Phil would say "How's that workin' for ya?". It isn't but what the heck is it I get out of this? Has to be something but I don't know what it is. I think this card is telling me to excavate it or bury it, and get over it. On the other hand I'm all for a "happy surprise" and will keep my eyes open for that outcome.

Daily Draw: Tarot Nova ~ Ace of Swords

There is knowledge to be gleaned today, contracts in the offing. New decisions requiring keen analytical thinking.

I'm known as an info-junkie. Hear a new word I rabbit off to check the dictionary. Someone mentions a new tarot coming down the pike I'm researching like a mad woman. A friend has an illness I look it up so I can help. I truly believe our mind is our most important muscle and it needs exercise. Also forewarned is forearmed. The more we know about anything places us in the position to make smarter decisions. Mulling things over is for cups, now is the time to act upon what we know.

edited 12 hours later to add: Sometimes the cards are so literal we miss it, like the purloined letter. I had two fillings and the first half of a crown done this morning. The minute I saw the dentist coming at me with that needle I thought "There is my ace of swords"...

Daily Draw: Tarot Nova ~ The World

When I look at this version of The World card the old song "I'm dancing on top of the world" springs to mind. Life on this big blue marble is seldom perfect but there are days and moments that stand out in my mind as being classic examples of why we bother to get up of a morning.

This card reinforces the need to gather and store all the good times against the dark days, and to give thanks for both, without one we couldn't appreciate the other. I'm glad to be alive.